"Well, I honestly think that, because of the size of those items, there's more room to give a little bit. And the infrastructure, the capital structure of Minneapolis still needs a lot of work," Newman said.

Some took a different approach, offering to hold off on street and bridge maintenance in order to avoid laying off police officers or firefighters.

Others suggested the city should cut its department of Civil Rights because the state has a similar office.

And some people at the meeting, like Ken Bollinger, suggested cutting items not on the worksheet.

Mayor RybakMPR Photo/Brandt Williams

"We're talking about perhaps removing some policemen, some fireman. I'd like to know why politicians are in a protected class," Bollinger said.

Bollinger suggested paring down the number of city council members. Rybak didn't warm to that idea, but he says there's too much regional government. And Rybak says he's open to a metrowide fire service as a way to reduce redundancy.

A few members of the group suggested that investing in strong neighborhood groups and block clubs was a more effective crime fighting tool than adding more police officers.

Charley Underwood said city residents can do a lot more to help the city deliver other crucial services. For example, he said a little citizen training can help first responders handle medical emergencies.

"There are programs, for example, like I last year, took this CERT program, the Citizens Emergency Response...An incredible program. I would highly recommend it to absolutely anyone here, except as far as I understand it's defunct at this point. The new manager hasn't been replaced, and I don't believe that program exists now," Underwood said.

GraphsMPR Photo/Brandt Williams

For the record the city's website says, the Community Emergency Response Team does still exist.

City officials are asking people with budget suggestions to post them online. It's not clear if any of the suggestions will actually make it into the mayor's revised budget.

Rybak is scheduled to present the budget in a few weeks.

In the meantime there will also be another public meeting at the Eastside Neighborhood Services building tonight.